Belt feed mechanism for machine guns



June 9, 1931. J. HATcHl-:R .1,808,347

I BELT FEED MEGHNISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Jan. 24, 1931 Patented June 9, 1931 narran stares rarsnr arriba 'l JAMES L. HTCHER, OF THE UNTED STATES ARMY,r WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA BELT FEED lVIECI-IANSM. FOR; MACHINE GUNS (GRANTED UNDER THE ACT F MARGH 3, 1883,. AS AMENDED ABRIL 30, 1928,' 370 0. G. 75'?)Y The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a beltfeed mechanism for machine guns.

In certain types of machine guns, such as the Browning, a transversely movable slide is provided to produce a step-by-step advance lo ofthe cartridge belt. Reciprocation of the slide is obtained through the agency of a lever that is cam-actuated by movement of the breech bolt in recoil and counterrecoil. On y recoil of the bolt the feed slide is moved into position to engage the next cartridge in the belt and on counterrecoil the belt is advanced. In this arrangement all of the work is performed during the counterrecoil stroke and a considerable burden is placed on the return spring.

The improvement contemplated in the present invention proposes to reverse this procedure by utilizing the energyV of recoil to provide a force eiective during counterrecoil to automatically advance the cartridge belt.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of partsand in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that Y changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention isV illustrated in the accompanyingV drawings, v wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the feed mechanism of a machine gun;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the slide in belt advancing position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the spring guide; and i Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of Fig. 5.

reference Referring to the drawings by numerals Ot' The feed mechanism is conventional in type and consists generally of the cover 5 having a transverse feedway 6 in which is mounted a. slide 7 reciprocated by means of a lever 8 having a stud 9 riding in the cam slot 10 vin the upper face of the breech bolt l11.

he portion of the cover above the slide is chambere'd and provided with a channel 12 above the longitudinal axis 'of the slide to accommodate a resilient element, specifically a coil spring 13. A connection between the slide 7 and the spring is established by means of a plunger 1li carried by a spring guide 15.

The spring guide consists of a head 16 fitting between the slide and thev cover and having a Vrib 17 iitting in the channel 12. The head confines one endpof the coil spring and has a linger 18 inserted within the spring. The head 16 is formed with a cylindrical recess 19 capable of housing the plunger 14.

The plunger 14 is hollow for'the purpose of receiving the plunger spring 201 which is seated on the floor of the recess 19 in theguide and normally hol-:rs the plunger in a recess 21 in the slide. Movement of the plunger under the'action of its spring is limited by engagement of a lip 22, formed by notching the plunger, with a pin 23 carried by they guide. As shown lclearly in Fig. 3, the plungermay be readily disengaged from the slide, when it is desired to remove the latter, by merely pressing on the plunger until it is completely housed within the guide.

One end of the slide is provided with aligned apertures 24 for receiving a pin 25 carrying a pawl 26.r

In operation when the breech bolt 11 moves to the rear due to the energy vof recoil, the lever 8 moves the slide to the left (Fig. 4.-) so that'the pawl 26 will be in position to engage behind the next cartridge in the cartridge belt. During this action the spring'l will be compressed.

As the' bolt is restored to battery by its return spring (not shown) the spring 13 moves the slide to advance the cartridge belt and also moves the lever 8. Since the stud 9 on the lever 8 rides in the cam slot 10 of the bolt, the lever acts as a control to regulate the movement 0f the slide The spring 13 functions to relieve the bolt return spring of the task of advancing the cartridge belt and insures a smooth and uniform operation. Y

5 The spring 13 also functions When the cover 5 is raised, to maintain the slide in a normal position so that when the cover is lowered, the stud 9 on the lever 8 Will drop into the cam slot 10 of the breech boltV when 10 the bolt is in battery.

I claim:

l. In a machine gun, a cover having a transverse feedway, a slide mounted in the eedWay, a spring housed in the cover in line 15 With the longitudinal axis of the slide, a guide fitting between the slide and cover and confining one end of the spring, a plunger carried by the guide and engageable with the slide, and recoil operated means for moving 30 the slide to energize the spring.

2. In a machine gun, a cover having a transverse feedway, a slide mounted in the eedWay, a spring housed in the cover in line with the longitudinal aXis oi' the slide, a

25 guide fitting between the slide and cover and confining one end of the spring, a connection between the slide and the guide, and recoil operated means for moving the slide to energize the spring.

:au 3. In a machine gun, a member having a transverse eedway, a slide mounted in the feedway, a spring housed in the member having the feedway and opposing movement of the slide, and recoil operated means Jfor 3;, moving the slide to energize the spring and for controlling return of the slide.

4. In a machine gun, a member having a transverse feedway, a slide mounted in the feedway, a spring opposing movement of the 4o slide, and recoil operated means for moving the slide to energize the spring and for controlling return of the slide.

5. In a machine gun, a member having a transverse feedway, a slide mounted in the if. fcedway, a spring opposing movement of the slide, and recoil operated means for moving the slide to energize the spring.

JAMES L. HATGH'ER. 

